Locking bracket

ABSTRACT

A locking bracket (1) includes a 3 mm mild steel plate (2) having two opposed longitudinally extending edges (3, 4) and two opposed transversely extending edges (5, 6). A locking formation in the form of an upstanding protrusion (7) is welded to plate (2) for selectively captively retaining a locking device such as a padlock (8). An aperture (10) in plate (2) is longitudinally spaced apart from protrusion (7) for receiving a bolt (11) which extends from padlock (8). In use, bolt (11) passes through aperture (10) and like apertures formed in a first and a second article which are to be locked.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lock and in particular to a lockingbracket.

The invention has been developed primarily for locking roller shuttersand will be described hereinafter with reference to that application.However, the invention is not limited to that particular field of useand is also suitable for locking swinging doors, sliding doors,tilt-a-doors, windows and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, the secure locking of roller shutters has involved securinglocking devices to the base of the shutter for subsequent selectiveretention to a loop, eyelet or other protrusion extending upwardly fromthe floor. These methods of locking are inconvenient because the floorlocated protrusions provide an obstacle particularly to persons walkingthrough the opening provided. Additionally the locking devices preventcomplete retraction of the shutter. This is especially disadvantageousin retail outlets where convenience and aesthetics are of paramountimportance.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention, at least in the preferredembodiment, to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one ofthese deficiencies of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a lockingbracket including a plate, a locking formation supported by the platefor selectively captively engaging a locking device, and an aperture inthe plate spaced apart from the formation for receiving a bolt extendingfrom the locking device, wherein, in use, the bolt passes through theaperture and a first and second article which are to be locked, theplate being disposed intermediate the first and a second articles.

Preferably, a shroud extends substantially perpendicularly from at leastone edge of the plate for shielding the locking device and/or thelocking formation.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a lockingbracket including a plate, a locking formation supported by the platefor selectively and captively engaging a locking device, an aperture inthe plate spaced apart from the locking formation for receiving a boltextending from the locking device, and a shroud extending substantiallyperpendicularly from at least one edge of the plate for shielding thelocking device.

Preferably, the shroud extends from two opposed edges of the plate andalso shields the locking formation.

Preferably also, the locking formation and the aperture arelongitudinally spaces apart and the shroud extends from two opposedlongitudinally extending edges of the plate, the shroud including slotsadjacent to respective edge of the plate for facilitating placement ofthe bracket between a first and a second article to be locked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a locking bracket according to one aspect of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a aide view of the bracket of FIG. 1, in situ;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a punched metal sheet from which a secondembodiment of the invention is produced;

FIG. 4 in a front view of a locking bracket formed from the sheet ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 4.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a locking bracket 1 includes a 3 mm mildsteel plate 2 having two, opposed longitudinally extending edges 3 and 4and two opposed transversely extending eyes 5 and 6. A locking formationin the form of an upstanding protrusion 7 is welded to place 2 forselectively captively retaining a locking device such as a padlock 8. Anaperture 10 in plate 2 is longitudinally spaced apart from protrusion 7for receiving a bolt 11 which extends from padlock 8. In use, bolt 11passes through aperture 10 and like apertures formed in a first and asecond article which are to be locked. In FIG. 2 the first and secondarticles are a roller shutter 12 and a channel 13 along which shutter 12slides.

Protrusion 7 includes a locking slot 9 for co-operating with padlock 8to effect locking. Alternative embodiments include a differently shapedslot for co-operating with other locks.

A shroud 14 extends perpendicularly away from edge 6 of plate 2 toshield padlock 8 and protrusion 7 from either intentional or inadvertantdamage.

Preferably, bracket 1, in use, is disposed intermediate shutter 12 andchannel 13, although in some circumstances plate 2 and padlock 8straddle the articles being locked. Preferably also, bracket 1 is usednear the base of shutter 12 whereby bolt 11 extends through one of themore substantive structural elements of the shutter.

When not in use, bracket 1 and padlock 8 can be completely removed fromthe shutter and channel for facilitating unimpeded operation of theshutter.

An alternative locking bracket 15 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 wherecorresponding features are denoted by corresponding reference numerals.In this embodiment, plate 2 includes two shrouds 19 and 20 which extendperpendicularly away from edges 3 and 4 respectively for providingincreased protection to padlock 8 and protrusion 7.

Both shrouds 19 and 20 include opposed longitudinally extending slots 21and 22 adjacent to respective edges 3 and 4. These slots facilitateplacement of bracket 15 between first and second articles. For example,bracket 15 can be used similarly to bracket 1 for locking stutter 12 tochannel 13.

In alternative embodiments bracket 15 does not include slots 21 and 22.

Shroud 19 includes a plurality of spaced apart holes 23 arranged in asquare configuration for allowing attachment of bracket 15 to an articlesuch as a door or window frame. Holes 23 can be in alternativeconfigurations or be of a different shape, if required.

Both brackets 1 and 15 accept a commercially available padlock 8,although the spacing between protrusion 7 and aperture 11 can be variedto accept locks of different sizes or configurations. One embodiment ofthe invention includes a plate 2 having a number of apertures 10 forselectively allowing one of a plurality of different locks to be used.

Plate 2 and shrouds 14, 19 and 20 are preferably integrally formed bystamping and forming a flat steel sheet. Alternatives are known to thoseskilled in the art of metal fabrication. Moreover, some applications mayrequire different thicknesses or quality of steel. For example, someembodiments utilise hardened steel.

Aperture 10, in sore embodiments, is in the form of a longitudinallyextending slot to selectively accommodate the shackles of differentlysized padlocks.

The invention provides a convenient locking bracket which is easilyadapted for locking articles. The only modifications which may berequired are the inclusion in the articles of appropriate holes for bolt11.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificexamples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theinvention may be embodied in many other forms.

I claim:
 1. A locking bracket including a plate, a locking formation in the form of an upstanding protrusion supported by said plate for selectively captively engaging a locking device, a shroud extending generally perpendicularly from at least one edge of said plate and shielding at least a portion of said upstanding protrusion, and an aperture in said plate spaced apart from said formation for receiving a bolt extending from said locking device, wherein, in use, said bolt passes through said aperture and a first and a second article which are to be locked, said plate being disposed intermediate said first and second article.
 2. A locking bracket according to claim 1 including a shroud extending substantially perpendicularly from at least one edge of said plate for shielding said locking device and/or said locking formation.
 3. A locking bracket including a plate, a locking formation in the form of an upstanding protrusion supported by the plate for selectively and captively engaging a locking device, an aperture in said plate spaced apart from the locking formation for receiving the bolt extending from the locking device, and a shroud extending substantially perpendicularly from at least one edge of said plate and shielding at least a portion of said locking device.
 4. A locking bracket according to claim 3 wherein said shroud extends from two opposed edges of said plate and also shields said locking formation.
 5. A locking bracket according to claim 4 wherein said locking formation and said aperture are longitudinally spaced apart and said shroud extends from two opposed longitudinally extending edges of said plate, said shroud including slots adjacent to respective edges of said plate for facilitating placement of said bracket between a first and a second article to be locked.
 6. A locking bracket according to one of the preceding claims wherein said aperture is a slot for selectively accommodating different sized locking devices. 